Oh My Goodness.

I can’t believe I didn’t burst. Really. Blues and Roots was such rocking goodness. So much good music. So indulgent and so exhausted. And so many stinky stinky clothes. Too many sweats. Yuck.

Thursday
The beginning of much fun. Ryan, Libby and I drove to Byron in Calbs listening to many a CD and getting excited for the next 5 days. We discussed musicians who we would like to marry and named all my children. Unfortunately I named four and I only want two.
Luka, Bede, Ella and Tess. I like four letter names.
When we arrived in Ballina I met Len, the guy from the YHA who I had spoken to many times and been amused by. We plonked our stuff and headed for Byron. Ohh woopy. Yay. We were given bands that were worth over a thousand dollars. We arrived for Angelique Kidjo. She was so cool. She danced a lot and I like that. She sung African music and was good. We checked out Jimmy Barnes, I couldn’t focud because I was too amused that he would be at such a place. We headed over for The Dave Matthews Band. They were pretty cool too but I’ve never heard them before and I was feeling utterly exhausted. I couldn’t see much and drunk boys kept standing in front of me. At first I was bitter but eventually I became more friendly.
We checked out Solomon Burke, apparently the King of Soul or something, but I was way tired and couldn’t take much in. I feared I may be this tired and boring for five days.

Friday
Oh the excitement in my bloodstream this day was a bit much. I could have bursted. Jo and I started with a swim in the pool. Hot Cross Buns (with crosses). We made sandwiches and arrived at about 2. I wondered by myself for awhile, checked out Steve Arvey, Tim Piper and Rhythm Co and Mia Dyson(all for the name). I think Jo and I saw some Los Mocosos and danced with a cute little girl. Went and caught the end of The Frames and tried to find Ryan and Libby ofr Violent Femmes. I ended up making my way to the front of the mosh for the rest of the night…all by myself. But I really enjoyed it. I was one of those soul people who danced crazily and had fun with no friends. No one had to know. G Love was pretty cool but Jack Johnson made my night. I was in the fourth row by then and was having such fun dancing. Jack got Xavier Rudd and Michael Franti out and it was so way cool. Michael wore a tea cosy and I thought it was beautiful. Jack wasn’t the best performer of the weekend but I did enjoy the gig as one of the best. Such fun. Jack Johnson was way cool and had such a nice smile and was a bit shy like. Sleep. Mmm

Saturday
Hot Cross Buns (with crosses). Breakfast till way late late late. Saw some Janis Ian and Cubanismo. My legs were getting pretty sor and tired, but the dancing had to go on. The hilight until the next hilight was Luka Bloom. I love him. He’s so soft and nice and really cool. I love how all these young folk like all this weird music that you wouldn’t expect. Then I saw Angelique Kidjo again. So much dancing. We tried to get close for Micahel Franti later and we did. George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic were on and pretty crazy like. They didn’t stop playing music for a whole hour and a half straight. They exhausted me and I didn’t want to be exhausted for Michael. But by the time Michael came we were about the 7th row and when he started he rocked so much oh yes, and the ‘jumpin’ began and within seconds I got squished through to the fourth row or so. Never have I exerted so much energy. He was SO fun. He was so soft and gentle and friendly and nice and cool and tall and funky and genuine and the best. He came down the front to the audience at the end and was so down to earth and humble. Gotta love the man.

Sunday
This brought easter. Hot cross Buns of course (no crosses) we thought maybe it was apprpriate because Christ had risen. Jo and I went to church…we thought it was 5 minutes walk down the road, but we got rather lost and it took us half an hour so we missed the 9.30 service we were planning on. We arrived at Ballina Church central though and found a 10am service at Ballina Presbyterian. It was really nice and we were ON TIME. The vibe was good and Jo and I both found it really hard not to dance to the music. So much dancing makes it hard to stop. We got more free hot cross buns (with crosses) to take home. It took 5 miuntes to walk home. Eventually we left for Byron. We dropped Ryan and Libby at the festival and Jo and I went to Byron for a swim. Such beautiful water. It was quick thought because we wanted to get back for The Whitlams. Sadly now I see I missed the Beautiful Girls. We listened to them on the way home and I liked them heaps. The Whitlams were cool except apparently the main singer is 40 and that freaks me out! He doesn’t look that old. He is so exactly like Jason Smith it made me laugh. Ryan and I both thought he would be like that in 20 years. We moved to the middle for The Waifs. I was hungry and couldn’t get into it. But they were cool. We had this idea we would eat during Kasey Chambers, but everyone had that idea. We could hear though and she was pretty fun. I totally got a signed Jack Johnson CD and I was really thrilled. We went back in for The Cat Empire. I loved them. They were such a nice surprise and I really enjoyed them. Can’t wait to dance to them again!! Saturday night seemed to be night the night of grose sleazy boys in mosh pits who would try and grab your bum. I think they’d all left by the time John Butler started which was nice. He brought his wife out on stage and it was beautiful and she had a beautiful bump on her belly. John is such a talented musician. Really nice.

Sunday
I almost cried because we missed Butterfly Boucher. But it was okay because we just so happened to sit next to her and her family in the cafe later on and it made me feel okay. But still sad. I checked out Vassy who reminded me of Erykah Badu and I thought Lucy would love her and so I got Lucy a CD. I thought for some reason Bright Eyes might be gentle and so I took Jo along but he was. He was depressed. We saw some Gomez from far away but went to get food because I was getting anxious about seeing Sarah McLachlan. We went to the side front for Missy Higgins but I couldn’t focus because I was feeling ill with excitement for Sarah. We managed to get to the second row for Sarah. Goodness knows how and I have no voice now because I screamed like a 15 year old the whole way through. She was the most beautiful, gracious and soft singer. Very humble and lovely. A really special concert. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. I felt so lucky to see her. I couldn’t really believe it, and just how sick I felt waiting for her. I was SO excited. This meant we were second row for Michael Franti again which was such rockin fun. I love him. he’s such a cool dancer. Oh fun fun. And then also for REM. It was cool to see them but they weren’t as cool as Michael Franti. But Jo and I have chosen to believe that Micahel Stipe was looking and pointing at us. Because… well I think it was us… and well it was during Losing my Religion And it doesn’t really matter if he wasn’t because he’s not really my fav…but its fun to think these things.

I can’t believe its over

Monday.
Sad. No Hot Cross Buns. We did go to Puddee’s though. And drove home listening to lots of Michael Franti. Oh yeah.
“How you feelin Byron?….Let me see you jumpin’”

Everyone deserves music, sweet music
Everyone deserves music, sweet music
Even our worst enemies, they deserve music
Even the quiet ones in our families, they deserve music

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 30th, 2005 at 12:31 pm.